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StepUP® Program Gala Recognizes Jill and Robert Thomas

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Gala Web Banner_2Two leaders in the addiction recovery community will be recognized for their commitment and generosity to Augsburg College’s StepUP® program for students in addiction recovery.

Jill and Robert Thomas, residents of Tulsa, Oklahoma, will receive the Toby Piper LaBelle Award at the Augsburg College StepUP Program Gala on October 24.

Thomas familyStepUP program alumni and families are invited to a special program, brunch, and open house to begin the Day of Gratitude at 9:30 a.m.

Alumni, parents, and friends are invited to an evening of inspiration, entertainment, and fellowship at the StepUP Program Gala celebration in Si Melby Hall on the Augsburg College campus at 5:30 p.m.

Married more than 30 years, Jill and Robert Thomas are the proud parents of two daughters: Allie, age 28, and a 2014 graduate of Augsburg College and the StepUP program, and Olivia Jordan, age 26, currently serving as Miss USA 2015.

Robert Thomas co-owns Senior Star, a company that owns and operates senior living retirement communities throughout the Midwest. Jill and Robert are both graduates of the University of Tulsa, Robert with a BS degree in 1974, and Jill with a BS degree in 1977 and a JD degree in 1986.

They have both been actively involved in Alzheimer’s advocacy through the Alzheimer’s Association. Robert has served on the National Board and been the recipient of the Maureen Reagan award for outstanding Alzheimer’s advocacy in 2010. They are actively involved in several community organizations including the Mental Health Association of Oklahoma, Alzheimer’s Association, and the Tulsa Area United Way, to name a few.

The Thomas family has given significant time and resources to the College’s program, which is a leader and award-winning model for residential addiction recovery communities at campuses across the nation.

The Toby Piper LaBelle Award is given to a person or family that has consistently supported young people in recovery. It is named in honor of the first recipient, Toby Piper LaBelle ’96, for his insight and ability to advocate for the needs of recovering college students on a college campus. LaBelle was a lead advocate for students in recovery while he was a student at Augsburg College.

To attend the Gala, and to celebrate the contributions of the Thomas family, please register at augsburg.edu/stepup/gala.

A-Club Golf Tournament Hosts a Record Number of Attendees

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A great day of golf! Keith Stout, Augsburg Regent Curtis Sampson, former Augsburg College President Bill Frame, with Regent Norm Hagfors. Hagfors received a standing ovation at the Clair Strommen A-Club Golf Tournament dinner for his leadership in the Augsburg CSBR Campaign.
Keith Stout, Augsburg Regent Curtis Sampson, former Augsburg College President Bill Frame, with Regent Norm Hagfors. Hagfors received a standing ovation at the Clair Strommen A-Club Golf Tournament dinner for his leadership in the Augsburg CSBR Campaign.

A record number of 160 golfers enjoyed a great day of golf on June 29 as Augsburg held its 52nd annual Clair Strommen/A-Club Golf Tournament at Oak Glen Golf Course in Stillwater.

Auggie alumni, staff, family, and friends gathered on the course and raised more than $42,000 to support student-athletes at Augsburg.

A notable absence this year was beloved Auggie Irene Steenson, who passed away in April at the age of 102. Steenson, who received an Augsburg Athletics Distinguished Service Award in 2002, served Augsburg College for more than 40 years, and continued to be an active Augsburg supporter long into her retirement. As the proprietor of the “On the Green with Irene” fundraiser, she sat at a tee box and handed out mint candies to golfers, greeting them with her charm and smile. Any golfer who landed their tee shot on the par three green won a sleeve of golf balls. The tournament continued to honor her this year with this same contest.

2015 sponsors of the event were Gladys and Robert Strommen. Tournament sponsors included Scott Anderson, Thom Berkowitz and Butch Raymond, Bruce Brekke, Rick Colvin, Rick Ekstrand, Twin Cities Orthopedics, and Anonymous. Prize sponsors were MECA Sportswear, Lee Olson, and Butch and Linnea Raymond. Hole sponsors included ADG Promotional Products, Advanced First Aid, Inc.–Norm Okerstrom, A’viands, Anixter, BR Direct Marketing–Bart Davidson, Continuum Construction, Inc., Oliver Dahl, Gamma Group, Jane Helmke, Tom Hofflander ’57, Greg Holker, Hunt Electric Corporation, Minnesota Coaches, Dan Meyers, NRG Energy Center, Thomas Oslund and Associates, Dick Pearson, Robert Strommen, and Jane Thompson.

See more photos from the event on the Augsburg College Auggies Facebook page.

Call For Alumni Bands for Homecoming Block Party

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5812179230_06e638294f_zHey Auggie bands! The Alumni Association is seeking submissions for a band to play at the Homecoming Block Party on Saturday, October 10 from 3:30-6 p.m. Bands in the past have been comprised of Augsburg alumni who play cover a variety of hits from popular eras.  If you are interested, please contact Katie Radford in Alumni Relations at radford@ausburg.edu or 612-330-1329.

Journey to the Holy Land with Auggies

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The Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem
The Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem.

Join Auggie guides Dr. Phil Quanbeck and Dr. Ruth Johnson ’74 on a tour of the Holy Land to explore its past, present, and people. January 4-17, 2016, your hosts will guide you through a customized and comprehensive tour of the biblical places of the Older and New Testament in Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. Stay two nights in Bethlehem where, along with the biblical sites, you’ll meet and dialogue with local community leaders and learn about the ministry of the International Center of Bethlehem.

Riding a camel on the Mount of Olives in 2012.
Riding a camel on the Mount of Olives in 2012.

Visit Jordan with two nights at Petra, featuring explorations of Madaba, Mt. Nebo, the ancient city of Petra and the recently opened baptismal site on the Jordan River. Fly into Tel Aviv on Delta Airlines and stay 12 nights, enjoying the hospitality and services of a professional, licensed Christian Palestinian guide throughout Israel and Palestine and a professional, licensed Jordanian tour guide in Jordan. Continue reading “Journey to the Holy Land with Auggies” →

Mike Newman Receives the Augsburg College Golden Bow Tie Award

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Bow TieIn April, President Pribbenow invited Mike Newman, Vice President of Community Relations at Travelers Insurance, to celebrate five years as a partner institution with the Travelers EDGE® program, Empowering Dreams for Graduation and Employment. The cocktail hour and focused program on campus highlighted key aspects of the EDGE program:

  • Increase the pipeline of underrepresented students to Augsburg
  • Help underrepresented students graduate from Augsburg
  • Build awareness of careers in the Insurance and Financial Services industries

Newman is a true champion of education, and advocates strongly for access to higher education for all students. As a surprise to Mr. Newman, President Pribbenow presented Mike Newman with the Golden Bow Tie Award, which is bestowed upon a leader within the Augsburg Community who exemplifies outstanding contributions, embodies the core values of an Augsburg education, and inspires great pride for all Auggies. The award was named, playfully, after Paul Pribbenow’s daily ritual of wearing a bow tie, a tradition he started to initiate conversation with students. Along with a certificate, Newman also received bow tie cufflinks. Continue reading “Mike Newman Receives the Augsburg College Golden Bow Tie Award” →

Alumni Connect at Rochester Reception

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More than 90 Augsburg alumni, friends, and community leaders came together for a special networking event at the Kahler Grand Hotel in Rochester on May 18, featuring Rochester mayor Ardell Brede, President Pribbenow, and guest speaker Dr. Paul S. Mueller ’84.

Mueller, the chair of the Augsburg Board of Regents spoke on the topic of “Augsburg College: Small to Our Students and Big for the World,” and cited current student Vision Bagonza ’17 and recent graduate Michelle Grafelman ’15 as students living out Augsburg’s mission. With more than 2,500 Auggies living in the Rochester area, the College’s presence in Minnesota’s fastest growing city is growing. The event was an opportunity for local alumni to connect, meet community leaders, hear more about the great work Augsburg is doing as the premier private education provider in Rochester. Continue reading “Alumni Connect at Rochester Reception” →

Grace Dyrud Honored by Alumni & Faculty

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Grace smallerEarly in life, Grace Dyrud tested seven standard deviations above the mean on a measure of endurance, she joked at her retirement reception in May. Dyrud began teaching in the psychology department at Augsburg in 1962, and in more than five decades at Augsburg she exemplified not only endurance but a deep commitment to her students. Her areas of research include gambling risk and attitudes toward the environment.

At the reception, attended by psychology faculty and alumni from every decade of her career, Dyrud thanked Keith, her husband of 49 years, as well as her children, students, and colleagues. All six of her children are Auggies. Lars Dyrud ’97 and Lara (Dyrud) MacLean ’90—a music major who played the violin at the reception—were in attendance and shared words of support and admiration for her long career. Alumni stood to thank Dyrud for encouraging their path to vocation, speaking truth to power, and supporting feminism at a time when it was unpopular.

Neil PaulsonNeil Paulson ’77, a psychology graduate, initiated an effort to honor Dyrud on her retirement from Augsburg with a scholarship for a female psychology student.

“I remember Dr. Dyrud as a caring instructor who was always willing to talk with her students. For many of her 52 years at Augsburg, she led the psychology department as chair. Through her published research, we have a better understanding of addictions like gambling. Dr. Dyrud represents what was and is still today special about Augsburg—student-centered faculty who excel in their field,” Paulson says.

To date, the scholarship has received $6,000 toward the $25,000 goal. Continue reading “Grace Dyrud Honored by Alumni & Faculty” →

Urban Debate League Tackles Real Life Challenges

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2014 Mayor's Challenge.
2014 Mayor’s Challenge.

Minnesota Urban Debate League (MNUDL), a program of Augsburg College, is charged with the mission to empower students through competitive academic debate to become engaged learners, critical thinkers, and active citizens who are effective advocates for themselves and their communities.

Under the leadership of Executive Director, Amy Cram Helwich, and with the support of faculty advisor, Robert Groven, MNUDL currently serves more than 750 students at 39 partner schools and has seen sustained growth in student participation and academic growth since its inception in 2004.

This year, Urban Debate League has expanded their programming to include Spanish and Somali debate. May 27, 2015, Urban Debate league will pilot a Somali Debate Initiative with a Community Forum including Representative Keith Ellison and other community leaders. The topic is facilitating remittances from the United States to Somalia. This legislation affects many of our current Somali students—the debaters will engage in a high-level conversation to determine possible solutions for this community challenge.

Several alumni are also involved in the Mayor’s Challenge: The Great Water Debate, Wednesday, May 13, 2015. Registration is at 7:30 a.m., and the program begins at 8 a.m. This year’s national high school policy debate topic is “Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its non-military exploration and/or development of the earth’s oceans.” Students at the breakfast will present an informative debate specific to Minnesota lakes and rivers.

Alumni are invited to attend! If you are interested, please sign up here to attend the May 13 fundraising event for Urban Debate League.

  • The Urban Debate League currently has sites at 39 schools serves 700 students.
  • 100% of debaters graduate on time and 99% have been accepted to college.
  • In the Twin Cities, debaters are 40% more likely to graduate than non-debaters.

To learn more visit the: Minnesota Urban Debate League home page.

 

Sign Up Now for GRE Prep Course & Application Boot Camp

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Come back to campus for a great rate on a GRE prep course, offered through the URGO office.

Graduate programs often require applicants to take the Graduate Records Exam, referred to as the GRE. URGO offers an eight week GRE prep course each summer for students, alumni, and staff at a cost well below those found at private test centers. This course is taught by Augsburg faculty and staff and walks students through each section of the general test. Throughout the course students complete sample test questions and receive in-depth feedback and instruction. The registration fee also includes a six-month subscription to the online GRE study tool, Magoosh.

Tuesdays, May 12th-June 30th

5-7pm @ Sverdrup 206

Cost: $80

Register at http://www.augsburg.edu/urgo/
If you have any questions about the course, please contact Kirsten O’Brien at urgo@augsburg.edu or 612-330-1446.

Alumni are also invited to take part in the Pre-Health Application Boot Camp 2015

May 7, 14, and 21

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Sverdrup 205

Application Bootcamp is a guided workshop where participants will receive instruction and guidance on centralized applications to health science programs, personal statements, and secondary applications in an environment where they can immediately utilize the material presented by working on the applications and statements.

Join AWE & the Augsburg Associates for an Augsburg Women’s Event

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AWE_Associates-Email-Invite-Header (2)Augsburg women of all generations are invited to a morning of engaging conversation, laughter, and inspiration.

Saturday, May 9
9-9:30 a.m. Registration
9:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Program
Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center at Augsburg College

Cost: $25 per attendee

Add $25 to your registration to sponsor a student

Augsburg Women Engaged (AWE) and the Augsburg Associates are teaming up again this year to continue the conversation.  Attendees will get a glimpse into the life stories of Augsburg women through music, art, drama, writing and the spoken word. Together, we will come to a better understanding of how we can find peace and confidence in measuring up amid life’s challenges and rewards.

Auggie women of all ages are invited to attend!

Hear stories from: Kari (Eklund) Logan ’82, Kristin Eggerling ’89, Tara Sweeney, & Becky Shaheen ’11

For more information:

612-330-1085 • alumni@augsburg.edu